Throughout his four-decade career, Brecker has received 18 Grammy Award nominations and won a total of six.

“It is both an honor and dream come true to feature Randy Brecker on my newest album,” Stewart says. “Mr. Brecker has personally shaped the sound of jazz, R&B and rock for over four decades and is a true jazz revolutionary whose phenomenal trumpet playing is respected among luminaries such as Miles Davis. Without Mr. Brecker’s contributions the world’s contemporary music scene would likely look a lot differently today.”

World-renowned Brazilian artist, arranger and producer Deodato has produced 16 platinum albums, garnering record sales of more than 25 million units in the U.S. alone.

He is famous for his chart-topping rendition of “2001: A Space Odyssey,” which earned him a Grammy Award, charted to No. 2 on Billboard’s Top 40 and sold more than five million albums. Madonna, Snoop Dogg, Sean “Diddy” Combs, The Notorious BIG, Lupe Fiasco, Nelly, J Dilla, Fat Joe, Angie Stone and Common have all sampled Deodato’s original music.

Deodato is also renowned for co-writing, arranging and producing Kool & The Gang’s No. 1 Billboard hit “Celebration,” the iconic song heard today throughout the world at weddings, parties, conventions and sporting events.

“Eumir Deodato is an icon in the music industry,” Stewart says, “and featuring him on my newest album is truly gratifying. His chart-topping rendition of ‘2001’ was my first exposure to jazz-rock music and I remain a lifelong fan of his phenomenal keyboard playing, composing, arranging and record producing. The exciting opportunity to collaborate with such a renowned and illustrious artist is truly the experience of a lifetime.”

Throughout his four-decade career, Scott has received 14 Grammy Award nominations and won a total of three. He received an Emmy Award in 2011 and was nominated for a second Emmy in 2017.

“Tom Scott’s musical bio reads like a list of the biggest selling artists in the history,” Stewart says. “From the chart-topping sax hook of Paul McCartney’s ‘Listen to What The Man Said’ to the iconic solos on Whitney Houston’s ‘Saving All My Love’ and ‘I Will Always Love You’ to numerous top 40 hits by George Harrison, Joni Mitchell, Blonde and Steely Dan – you regularly find Mr. Scott’s musical expertise among the secret ingredients that make a song a ‘hit song.’”

For 18 years listeners around the world have sampled, downloaded and streamed music from Stewart’s prior albums more than 7.5 million times. “Summer Beat” is similar in style to past efforts but, according to Stewart, will be more “soulful,” “melodic” and “funky” - offering listeners “everything from smooth jazz to old school funk and jazz-rock fusion.”

Since releasing his previous albums: “Thrill Ride” (2015), “Groove Garden” (2010), “Urban Playground” (2005), and “Life Games” (2000), Stewart has maintained a unique worldwide position with listeners throughout more than 170 countries.

Stewart’s global popularity as an artist began in late 2001, when “Midtown Funk,” a jazz-funk single from his first album “Life Games,” charted to 15 on MP3.com’s overall worldwide top 40, surpassing songs from popular artists at the time such as Madonna, Eminem, Mariah Carey, Faith Hill, Linkin Park, The Offspring and Sum 41.

At the time, MP3.com was the world’s number one digital music site, receiving more than 35 million visitors a month, and during that year, the site's jazz top 20 frequently contained all 14 tracks from “Life Games” simultaneously.

“It’s stunning when the local papers start calling you up,” Stewart says. “I had already achieved some measure of success with jazz radio stations throughout the Intermountain West but obtaining global success came as a complete surprise. Charting higher than Madonna, Eminem or Mariah is certainly nothing any independent artist ever thinks possible.”

Stewart’s most recent album “Thrill Ride” charted to number eight worldwide on ReverbNation, the popular global digital music platform that features more than 3.8 million musicians, fans, venues, and labels throughout more than 130 countries worldwide, including popular artists such as Eminem, Rihanna, Rick Ross, P-Diddy, Judas Priest and Public Enemy.

“Thrill Ride” is Stewart’s biggest selling album to date and remained in ReverbNation’s top ten worldwide for eight consecutive weeks; the site’s top 20 for 19 consecutive weeks; and the site’s top 40 for nine consecutive months.

“My last album exposed me to new listeners worldwide and I am hoping to build on that success with this new album,” Stewart says. “I am emphasizing melody and including smoother jazz elements along with my trademark funk-styled compositions.”

Stewart says the album title, “Summer Beat,” refers to his lifelong love of listening to classic jazz and funk albums during the summer months.

“I have always felt that summer shares a lot in common with jazz and funk music,” Stewart says. “Like summer, the music is about spontaneity, seizing the moment, taking wholehearted action, and having a lot of fun. Jazz-funk is also exhilarating like a blazing-hot summer sun delivering a burst of light, warmth and joy that uplifts the soul.”

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Isaiah Stewart (ASCAP) is a drummer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and worldwide recording artist who studied contemporary songwriting with the Berklee College of Music and musical production at the University of Utah. A professional drummer since age 9, Stewart has studied with many of the world’s most highly recognized drum artists, including Tony Williams, Neil Peart, Terry Bozzio, Mike Portnoy, Steve Gadd, Billy Cobham, Dave Weckl, Dennis Chambers, Virgil Donati, Steve Smith, David Garibaldi and Joe Morello.

Stewart is the son of Utah opera singer Mary Elaine Shewell, who was personally mentored by and regularly performed with world-renowned conductor Maurice Abravanel, who received a Tony Award, the National Metal of Arts from President George H.W. Bush, and numerous Grammy nominations for his classical recordings with the Utah Symphony Orchestra that he conducted for more than 30 years.

This is my fifth album by Isaiah Stewart that I have bought. I wore out his first four albums from playing them so much. EXCELLENT ! I This CD is cool as hell and is his best one so far!! Isaiah Stewart has the beat. The infectious rhythms. The pizzazz. No doubt about it. I especially like hearing Randy Brecker and Tom Scott, who are always so awesome. This cd is a great addition to the cool drummer section of your funk library.

Isaiah Stewart is probably one of the best drummers out there, and it can definitely be heard on “Summer Beat”. This album focuses around his drum beats and is perfect for those who enjoy funky music you can dance to. Randy Brecker who is featured a lot of this album is also the best trumpet player in the world. He has quite a range and is able to pick notes out of all registers with ease with solos that are well formed and don't lose sight of the song. Randy Brecker plays with such an elegant ease, yet is able to attack with force. “Summer Girl” and “Funky Days” are two great tracks that symbolize everything about this extraordinary musician.

The album opens with “Summer Girl“ with guest star Randy Brecker doing licks over a classic funky guitar rhythm. “Westside Funk” with Eumir Deodato is a high point of the cd as well as “Hollywood Funk” with Tom Scott. A great guitarist, Jamie Glaser, also appears on many of the tracks. He's a great player from Jean-Luc Ponty that can roll solos off the fretboard without even trying. His phrasing is clear and meaningful, even when he's rattling off sixteenth notes and faster. It's fun to listen to him play on these cuts.

Love Isaiah Stewart's albums. I have been listening to them for years. They never get old. It is the kind of music that keeps playing in your head long after you have turned it off and it's effect lingers in a very pleasant way. All instrumental so it is great background for working, working out, driving, or just relaxing and chilling with friends. Summer Beat is my favorite so far. Highly recommended!!

I have all Isaiah's albums and love them all, but this one really is out there on its own. I feel as if Isaiah has suddenly grown up. This is amazing. I love the track with Deodata, but my absolute favorite is "Summer cove". Astounding job Isaiah!

Summer beat is another example of why I have no problem buying Isaiah Stewart’s music without even hearing it first. His CDs always contain quality Jazz and he always has great musicians playing with him. On this CD he plays Drums, Percussion and Keyboards, how much talent does this guy have. He also produced the CD and composed and arranged all of the music at his studio The Playground (How cool is that name). Too bad he didn’t have any singing or rapping like on past albums. The CD has upbeat Jazz, Funky Jazz and nice mellow Jazz, this is the music I really enjoy, Urban Strut and Hollywood Funk are just 2 song examples. My wife and I really enjoy Isaiah’s music and Summer Beat is another great addition.

Modern, classic, fresh and original jazz fusion with Randy Brecker, Tom Scott an

As a jazz fusion fan starting back in '82 (and tenor sax player in my college jazz band) this “Summer Beat“ album is something totally fresh and original when it comes to a similar fusing of jazz improv with a melodically pop sensibility.

The music of jazz fusion, Miles Davis admitted, he created because what he was “doing in the '60's was getting old and stale.” Unfortunately the smooth jazz movement ruined what Miles created and made fusion jump the shark in the’80s and ‘90s, but “Summer Beat“ is an album that seems to me to be pure, emphasizing the fusion side of contemporary jazz - it does smooth jazz a little bit but without one stinker on the entire album. The entire album is outstanding!

“Summer Beat” features classic jazz fusion artists Randy Brecker, Tom Scott, Deodato and Jamie Glaser and their playing on this album is just as excellent as you would expect it to be. In my opinion, this is one of the best jazz releases in many years - great jazz with heavy drums and percussion, funky bass tones and a great variety of rhythms and melodies. This sounds like classic jazz fusion and it’s hard to believe it was released in 2018.

This CD is everything we love Isaiah Stewart for. Smooth clean jazz fusion, funk grooves; sensual lush melodies with a touch of smooth jazz. But on this album, IS adds to his usual sound by highlighting the incredible playing of jazz fusion masters Randy Brecker, Tom Scott and Eumir Deodato. In my opinion, IS blows away any popular jazz artists today, and if you love great grooves, you cannot go wrong with this CD. “Funky Days” with RB is worth the price of the CD alone, but don't miss the chance to download the whole thing - you'll be wanting more and more!

I have most of Isaiah's CD's going back to mid 2000s and I found this CD to be one of his best releases in recent years. He realized that he got to where he is today by not singing and playing the drums and making cool instrumental music. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this CD. Selections 1 though 11 are all excellent. I would definitely recommend this CD to fans of fusion and smooth jazz who have been waiting for some great music to hear, and Isaiah has never put out something with this much quality, especially since jazz rock stars Randy Brecker, Tom Scott and Eumir Deodato are all present. Four stars!!